A new Ice Age species was hiding in la brea tar pits

Research matters when it gives scientists better tools or clearer answers. The question is whether this work actually advances understanding or just adds noise.

Reporting

ScienceDaily Top Science reports that A new Ice Age species was hiding in la brea tar pits fossils for decades. Scientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find—only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America. Its bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before a… The key issue is whether the finding is strong enough to guide follow-up research, better tools, safer systems, or real-world applications.

The Details

• ScienceDaily Top Science: A new Ice Age species was hiding in la brea tar pits fossils for decades
• Scientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an

Next Developments

• replication by other researchers
• real-world applications
• limitations and caveats